36 C O N T E X T 1 0 5 : J U LY 2 0 0 8 the local armoury, and afford space for the scold’s ducking stool or the stocks. Some were even used as the jail or a night shelter. The list of what churches are currently being used for is just as wide-reaching.While remaining primarily places of worship, uses include hosting civic events, providing a space for social and community activities, and providing support and resources for children, teenagers, the elderly, the homeless, asylum seekers and migrant workers. In the area of education, churches are the focus of school visits as well as hosting UK online centres, SureStart Centres, adult education centres, internet cafés, after-school clubs and libraries. As well as being a major draw for tourists, churches are now themselves becoming tourist information centres and heritage centres. They provide the setting for exhibitions, plays and concerts. In a relatively new but growing development, churches are playing their role in the delivery of vital services to those communities in both rural and urban areas where the increasing centralisation of services and cutbacks can affect the most vulnerable, namely the elderly and those reliant on public transport. So now we can find post offices, doctors’ and dentists’ surgeries, health centres, gyms, community shops, police stations, cafés and farmers’ markets all taking place inside the church. Over the past four years, the barriers that can exist in respect of the wider use of church buildings, largely in the minds of some parts of government and Left: St Martin in the Bull Ring, Birmingham Right: An inconspicuous kitchen pod installed at Ottery St Mary, Devon funders, have gradually been broken down. Churches have always known that they are not able to claim funding for faith activities, but now the prejudice around funding activities in buildings which are open and accessible to the whole community is receding. Perhaps the biggest sign of this is FaithAction, the new national network formed last year that receives government funding to be the voice of faith and community organisations delivering public services. When I first started in 2003, I was told at least once a week that, in respect of its churches, there is no such thing as the Church of England. I now understand this and see that one of the strengths of the parochial system is the fact that each building is the responsibility of the incumbent and the parochial church council. Reading the Church Times every week has provided a fascinating insight into the thorny issues that currently concern the Church of England. Most of all I have been inspired by what individual churches have achieved and the individuals who have made it happen, often by sheer willpower and 100 per cent perseverance. One difficulty is trying to determine what factors make for a successful, living church that is wellused by its community. Location and the size of the electoral roll all have an effect, but time and again it seems to come down to individuals and their wish to turn things around. Reinventing the wheel across the country in numerous parishes does produce new ideas and new ways of doing things, but we are also trying to produce resources, and publicise their
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